PEDAGOGY OF THE CHURCH:
Is there a connection?

     When I was knee high to a duck, my mother and grandmother carted us off to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Church meant attending worship service preceded by obligatory presence in Sunday school. We read, learned and discussed the stories of Jesus. My teachers laid the foundation for my call to the ministry years later. While the knee high to a duck stage continued, mother sent us to a Roman Catholic school. Benedictine nuns ran it. Upon arrival, they fastened me to their pedagogic wheel from K-8 grades. We attended Mass daily. We did class work. And, we learned catechism (Roman Catholic doctrines and beliefs in the form of questions and answers). Catechism could not be ignored; we received grades. In nine years, I learned more about Catholicism than Methodism. Had I not had deep roots in Methodism, I’d be a Catholic.
     After Catholic grade school, I entered public school. Yet, the seeds of Catholic doctrine had been planted in my mind as had those of Methodism. Surprisingly, the pedagogy of another denomination would have a go at me. My dating life with my wife of 38 years began in earnest, circa 1962. To date her properly meant meeting her family and visiting her church. Religious education and learning the tenets of the faith seemed even more central and a higher priority than Methodism or Catholicism. Everyone (daters included) had their Bibles and textbooks. Sermons, programs, quizzes, and scripture lessons, and some proof-texting demanded that one know their Bible lest they be found wanting in Sabbath school, worship or mid-week Bible study. Using the Bible and learning about Adventism came along with dating Beverly. Had I not had deep roots in Methodism, I’d be a Seventh Day Adventist. Yes, I attended Sabbath school and church regularly because I was interested in Beverly. At the same time, one cannot sit under weekly religious instruction and not be impacted. At least, that has been my case.
     In passing, I have had opportunity to do some instructing myself. For two years running, Dr. William Quick, Pastor Emeritus of Metropolitan Church in Detroit, has invited me to teach/share with his class on Leadership and Care of the Parish at Duke Divinity School. Here is what I have observed. Bill and his wife, Mary, have made an indelible imprint on the lives of students by what they know, how they care and how they exemplify their faith with students entrusted to their care. Hence, students have often turned to them for advice. Is there any connection between my being almost won over to Catholicism or Adventism and the Great Commission? It must be. The Great Commission emphasizes pedagogy of the church. According to Christ, it makes disciples for him. When I think about the experiences above, I wonder. Is there any connection between the 2005 eighth and ninth place rankings out of 11 conferences in the North Central Jurisdiction for Detroit and West Michigan conferences with respect to Sunday school attendance and our 40-year membership slide? Years ago, when we attended Sunday school; we attended church as well. Is there a connection?